Top Ten Things To Do in Budapest

The top ten things to do in Budapest is by no ways an easy list to put together as there are lots of things to do, to see, to try in the exciting capital city of Hungary. Admittedly, it’s not easy to pick the overall top ten things to do in Budapest, which would cater for all interests, styles, ages, tastes and budgets.

Budapest by Night

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Having a healing bath is not only good for your joints, it is also a great way to get back your strength after stress, late night parties, long Budapest walking tours, or to cure your jet lag.

The top baths in Budapest have a range of thermal and swimming pools of all sizes, so everyone can find their own needs easily. Some of the baths are mixed fully, or at least co-ed on certain days: see more on Budapest Baths.

Try one of the therapies and drinking cures too. Does it taste strange? You bet. But it’s hot spring water cooled down. Nature’s cocktail.

Whirlpool in Szechenyi Bath

Tip: the lines waiting at the Szechenyi Thermal Baths can be quite long from May to October. Is it worth waiting 45 min in the hot sun (no shades!)? We don’t think so, after all you can buy your Szechenyi Bath tickets online. Winters are OK though (except Budapest Christmas holidays and NYE), as are weekday mornings, if you can optimise your bath visit.

Tip: If you like WW2, visit the Rock Hospital Museum: a nuclear shelter + hospital under the Castle Hill. Feel the chilly winds of the Cold War era.

Tip: the Parliament looks enticing from the Buda Castle: do book a guided tour in advance. Places are very limited. See: Hungarian Parliament tours

Budapest Tourist Map

You can find some of the best attractions, restaurants and hotels in Budapest in our Budapest Tourist Map. Please click on the map image to enlarge and to get to the actual interactive map to estimate walking, car or Budapest public transport distances:

Budapest Tourist Map by TopBudapest.org

Heroes’ Square – Number 3 – Things To Do in Budapest

Visit the Heroes’ Square featuring the historical equestrian statue complex called the Hungarian Millennium Monument. The square is flanked by two high-quality fine art museums, the OLD and the NEW. The classical Museum of Fine Arts features the old arts, from mummies to Raffaello – huge fine art collections from Europe – see the exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts.) Opposite the Museum of Fine Arts is the contemporary Hall of Arts (Mucsarnok) if you love good exhibitions of international arts from the last few decades, it is a must see.

Budapest National Gallop on Heroes Square – vagta.hu

Alternatively, take a walk in the City Park (where Szechenyi Baths is), spot the Vajdahunyad Castle at the artificial lake. The small lake by the castle is good for feeding the ducks, or skating in winter, boating lake in summer.

You can keep walking on Andrassy Avenue (or take the yellow line metro to Oktogon square) and take a look at the House of Terror, a highly popular and unique museum showing the real dark pits of communism, and the Nazi regime in the ex HQ of the secret police.

Tip: check out the weekend flea market at PECSA if you like oddities, quirky items and places. Kertem is one of the ruin pubs in the City Park (snacks, drinks, good atmosphere).

Walk by the River in Budapest – Number 5 – Things To Do in Budapest

OK, it is actually the number 1 or 2 thing to do in Budapest, but you will be walking by the river anyway. Also our tip: walk along the Danube promenade, marvel at the neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliamentwith its fine turrets and statues. Walk through the Chain Bridge, the Liberty Bridge, or the Margaret bridge (Margithid), and take a fun bike to go around Margaret Island, (Margitsziget) one of the best green parks of Budapest with loads of things to enjoy (open air lido of Palatinus, free pet zoo, Japanese garden, etc.).

Budapest Segway Tours: if you are already a Segway fan, you need no more encouragement, just go, and enjoy. If you have not tried rolling on a Segway yet, here is a chance to get instantly hooked! Available in winter too.

Budapest boat tours: get in a river boat (some are open air, others have huge glasses to shield you in rainy windy weather), and sip some nice champagne, wine, beer or juice while enjoying the night-lit UNESCO world heritage sights of the two sides of the Danube: the Buda Castle, the Citadel on the Gellert Hill, the 19th century buildings on the hilly Buda side, the Hungarian Parliament, the Gresham Palace, the St Stephen’s Basilica on the Pest side, the Margaret Island and the bridges (Chain Bridge, Liberty Bridge, etc.) in the middle. You cannot but be romantic in Budapest. Or just warm up for a party on a Budapest boat party.

Tip: Tram 2 – along the river on land, for approx. 1.5 EuroTip: The most spectacular river cruise of the year is the Budapest Fireworks Cruise – surprisingly not on New Year’s Eve, but on August 20 (birthday of Hungary)

Music in Budapest – Number 7 – Things To Do in Budapest

Enjoy operas in the beautiful Hungarian Opera House (snacks in the break are also a treat) and/ or listen to classical concerts at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music or choirs, organ concerts at the magnificent St Stephen’s Basilica. Jazz, world music and classical concerts are excellent at the Palace of Arts (MUPA) where you can always find something intriguing to do.

Opera House Budapest

If classical music is not for you, go to one of the great Budapest festivals (e.g. Sziget Festival on Obuda Island in Budapest, Balaton Festival in Zanka Volt Festival in Sopron, etc.).

For cool local and international rock, world music, jazz, metal,hiphop, d&b, metal, punk, etc. concerts visit A38 music club (which is a ship on the Danube with a nice restaurant), or check out some fresh music programmes by talking to guys & gals in a pub/ cafe – everyone will be happy to help you. The younger generation of 15-38 speaks good English.

Jewish Budapest – Number 8 – Things To Do in Budapest

Visit the Dohany Street Synagogue (aka the Budapest Great Synagogue), the Jewish Museum, and the old Jewish district, where you can try yummy cakes at Cafe Frohlich or Cafe Noé etc. (Rachel’s Flodni is incredibly delicious). If you are lucky you can listen to some wonderful klezmer music, and other concerts at the Synagogue. Don’t miss the Jewish Summer Festival if you are in Budapest in August-September, or the Jewish Gastro Festival in November. Walk through Kiraly street (start from Deak square) to find a good place to eat, boutiques to buy handmade things, and feel the vibe of a Budapest’s Jewish community. Take a walk to the Shoes on the Danube Holocaust memorial by the river bank on the Pest side.

Enhance your nightlife experience by checking out one of the best Budapest festivals. Ruin pubs (like Szimpla kert, Otkert, Corvinteto, etc.) are not to be missed if you are under 35 or so, and love parties, cool pubs, artsy – quirky places. You will know what to do: talk to locals and have fun, try a sip of palinka, or a Hungarian (craft) beer!

Oh, for the more moderate, you can go to nice restaurants with live music (swing, jazz) or why not take a bath under the starlit Budapest (some of the pools at Szechenyi Baths are open until 10 pm!)

Cuisine – Tasting tours in Budapest – Number 10 – Things To Do in Budapest

When sampling Hungarian dishes, supposing you are not a vegetarian in Budapest, give priority to goose (Hungary is the second biggest goose liver exporter following France), mangalica pork (the meat of the Hungarian furry pig), or duck, wild boar.

Cafe in Paris Department House, Budapest – Ben G Hancock Photography

Did you know that many Serrano hams in Spain are made from the best tasting Hungarian pork, Mangalitsa.

Try the matching Hungarian wines, but do not trust all waiters / sommeliers (some will offer you the priciest, so if in doubt, check the price before ordering). Are you on a tight budget looking for value and cheap restaurants? Don’t despair! Here are some of the best cheap restaurants in Budapest (green icons on the map show vegetarian options).

Leave some room for the best Hungarian pastries for dessert. Dobos cake may be famous, but it is a dry cake. ‘Flodni’ on the other hand, is the best moist cake ever! Hungarian strudels at Retesbolt are fantastic, worth a detour. Cakes at Daubner are also singing!

Try a tasting tour on hot summer days in cool wine cellars, visit the market halls with a local foodie guide, or if you love cooking, try one of the best reviewed Hungarian cooking crash courses.

Related Budapest tours:

Budapest Wine Tasting – wine tour for wine lovers including lunch, and wine tasting in one of the best wine shops in Budapest